Accidental CT exposure...should I worry?

[quietmedic]

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Not sure if this is the exact right sub-forum, but here goes:

Normally, in CT with contrast patients, we start the IV, hook it up to the auto-iunjector, then when the machine is warming up, we stay in long enough to make sure the IV is still patent (after the patient has repositioned their arms) as the auto-injector flows, then jump out as the CT is about to get shot. Today, the tech pressed the wrong button, and started the CT scan of a young female pelvis, as I was standing about a foot away from the CT facing it. As soon as I heard the ominous "beeeep" and muttered "what the ....", I jumped out, but I got a few seconds of CT exposure, including from a foot away.

So, should I worry? The tech says the radiation beam is fairly vertical and local to the center of the CT field, and doesnt leak in the horizontal direction...is this true?

 

[drizzt3117]

Well the pt got the full dose of the CT and she'll be fine; why wouldn't you?

Not sure if this is the exact right sub-forum, but here goes:

Normally, in CT with contrast patients, we start the IV, hook it up to the auto-iunjector, then when the machine is warming up, we stay in long enough to make sure the IV is still patent (after the patient has repositioned their arms) as the auto-injector flows, then jump out as the CT is about to get shot. Today, the tech pressed the wrong button, and started the CT scan of a young female pelvis, as I was standing about a foot away from the CT facing it. As soon as I heard the ominous "beeeep" and muttered "what the ....", I jumped out, but I got a few seconds of CT exposure, including from a foot away.

So, should I worry? The tech says the radiation beam is fairly vertical and local to the center of the CT field, and doesnt leak in the horizontal direction...is this true?

 

[fun8stuff]

Not sure if this is the exact right sub-forum, but here goes:

Normally, in CT with contrast patients, we start the IV, hook it up to the auto-iunjector, then when the machine is warming up, we stay in long enough to make sure the IV is still patent (after the patient has repositioned their arms) as the auto-injector flows, then jump out as the CT is about to get shot. Today, the tech pressed the wrong button, and started the CT scan of a young female pelvis, as I was standing about a foot away from the CT facing it. As soon as I heard the ominous "beeeep" and muttered "what the ....", I jumped out, but I got a few seconds of CT exposure, including from a foot away.

So, should I worry? The tech says the radiation beam is fairly vertical and local to the center of the CT field, and doesnt leak in the horizontal direction...is this true?

as long as you don't make this an every day habit over the next 20-30 yrs

 

[CATrtb]

Yes, the X-ray beam is vertical but the scatter radiation from the patient is horizontal, so you took a quick shot to the testicles and/or ovaries. Don't try to conceive a child for the next 3 months.

 

[colbgw02]

Yes, the X-ray beam is vertical but the scatter radiation from the patient is horizontal, so you took a quick shot to the testicles and/or ovaries. Don't try to conceive a child for the next 3 months.

 

[deleted103644]

Don't make a habit of it and you'll be fine.

 

[shark2000]

Nothing will happen to you, even if you are pregnant.
CATrtb is completely wrong.
The dose of the radiation decreases exponentially with distance. And you are not exactly in the direction of the beam, you are only exposed to the scattered beem, so you are exposed an exponential fraction of a scattered beam which is itself an exponential fraction of the direct beam.
My bet is at most you were exposed to radiation equal to a portable chest X ray (0.01 mSV), though even this dose is very unlikely.